Method and apparatus for implementing a vehicle inspection waiver program

Abstract

Position data received wirelessly from a vehicle enrolled in an inspection waiver program are employed to determine when the enrolled vehicle has entered a geofenced area, associated to an inspection station. After determining that the enrolled vehicle is in the geofenced area, and if the enrolled vehicle has a valid inspection waiver, a bypass confirmation can selectively be provided to the vehicle operator, authorizing the operator to bypass the inspection station. The task of determining when an enrolled vehicle is in the geofenced area associated to an inspection station can be performed using a processor disposed in the vehicle, or at a remote location separate from both the vehicle and the inspection station, or at the inspection station.

The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following: 
     
       1. A method of administering a vehicle inspection program, utilizing an inspection station, having an inspection station location, on an enrolled fleet of vehicles that each includes a position sensor, that produce position data as each enrolled vehicle is being operated, and each enrolled fleet vehicle having a driver, and comprising:
 defining a geofence, and thereby a geofenced area, around the inspection station; and 
 continuously comparing the position data for each vehicle with the geofence to determine if any fleet vehicle has entered the geofenced area, and therefore is subject to inspection at the inspection station; and 
 inspecting at least some of the vehicles that enter the geofenced area. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further wherein for each instance of a fleet vehicle that has entered the geofenced area:
 making a determination as to whether to permit the fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station to bypass inspection; 
 presenting the determination to each driver of a fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station and personnel of the inspection station being approached; and 
 inspecting fleet vehicles wherein a determination has been to not permit a fleet vehicle to bypass inspection, and not inspecting fleet vehicles wherein a determination has been made to permit a fleet vehicle to bypass inspection. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein each said fleet vehicle includes a set of sensors, and wherein said determination as to whether to permit the fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station to bypass inspection depends at least in part on information from said sensors. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inspection station is directly accessible from a first road, and wherein the geofenced area includes portions of a second road, thereby blocking efforts by drivers to avoid inspection by travelling the second road instead of the first road. 
     
     
       5. A system for administering a vehicle inspection program, utilizing an inspection station, having an inspection station location, on a fleet of enrolled vehicles that each includes a position sensor, that produces position data as each enrolled vehicle is being operated, and each enrolled fleet vehicle having a driver, and comprising:
 a computing assembly, sufficient to permit a user to define a geofence, and thereby a geofenced area, around the inspection station; 
 a communications assembly for conveying position data from each enrolled vehicle to the computing assembly; and 
 wherein the computing assembly includes non-transitory computer readable memory, having a program that:
 continuously compares the position data for each vehicle with the geofence to determine if any fleet vehicle has entered the geofenced area, and therefore is subject to inspection at the inspection station; 
 determines which vehicles that have entered the geofenced area are to be inspected; and 
 utilizes the communication assembly to notify the fleet vehicle driver and the inspection station when a fleet vehicle is designated to be inspected. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein said computing assembly includes at least a first computer and a second computer and wherein said first computer is sufficient to permit a user to define a geofence and said second computer has the non-transitory computer readable assembly having the program. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein each said fleet vehicle includes a set of sensors, and wherein said determination as to whether which fleet vehicles that have entered the geofenced area to be inspected, depends at least in part on information from said sensors, for each such fleet vehicle.